“Where’s the conviction bro?” You may hear my friends and I ask each other that question quiet often. Sometimes it is just a little inside joke or other times, it is the complete opposite and serious. I have been blessed with the privilege of being able to live life with a group of guys who just so happen to be a bunch of “Jesus Freaks.” These guys keep me in check and know my every strength along with my ever weakness. They know what sins I struggle with and what sins I have overcome (obviously through Jesus Christ of course!)
Anyhow, there are six of us guys who have decided to dig deep into discipleship with Jesus Christ. Which just so happens to mean a lot of discipline. Like a lot… I’m not just talking about going to bed early, so that you can wake up early, so that you can read your bible for at least an hour kind of discipline… No, it is so much more than that. We have chosen to spill the beans and live life together as the disciples did. Not like literally live together physically, but very much so spiritually. We have confessed sin to each other, cried together, laughed together and have even washed each other’s feet (John 13:14). We are no longer playing games! We expect fully for to be called out and confronted by one another when we are caught up in sin. But not to just leave it there as a “call out,” rather to be able to fall on our faces, booties in the air, knees on the grounds and crying out to the Lord for one another. That is the kind of discipline we hold each other to, true and deep accountability.
I wish I could count on my hands the amount of times I hear the question, “where’s the conviction bro?” coming out of the mouth of one of my brothers each day. But fortunately… and unfortunately, I cannot count that much. We often ask each other that question, but how often do we truly ask our-selves that very question?
I have been so consumed of the concern of other’s convictions that I have forgotten to ask myself that very question. I found it so easy to be able to point at and call out everyone else’s flaws, setbacks and sins and ignore my own. As soon as that finger I am pointing directly at on of my friends slowly starts to turn back to me, it’s like BAM! All of my convictions just seem to not even matter. Why do I allow that to happen? Have I truly allowed my mind to be drunk with such pride?
Where is the convictions when friends ask for prayer and I never get down on my knees to pray for them with a heart of anguish? How many times have I told one of my friends that I am praying for them but never actually got into my prayer closet and cried out to the Lord on their behalf? Telling your friends that you would pray and just remembering their prayer throughout the day is not enough!
Where is the conviction when I have thoughts of judgment toward others? Who am I to judge? Jesus tells me to love my neighbors… even my enemies. Not only that, But to pray for those who persecute me!
Where is the conviction when I act upon anger or lust? Jesus Christ has washed me white as snow! Why do I not walk out the purity he has created me to walk out? Jesus has also given me a peace that surpasses all understanding. Why do I ever get frustrated or anger toward the smallest of situations. JESUS HAS GOT MY BACK!!
Where is the conviction when I take part in gossip or coarse joking? Come on dude! You know you should never speak words of destruction! You are called to edify and build up!
Where is the conviction when I need to confess sin? “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16) It is in the BIBLE!!! It says that it brings healing, but yet I find it so difficult to do!
Where is the convictions when I need to confront others? How often do I allow someone around me to walk and talk in sin?
I am beyond tired of ignoring the conviction of Holy Spirit! I want to live a life of radical obedience to the Lord! How about you?
Where’s the conviction bro?
and for my sisters out there, Where’s the conviction sista?
Prayer:
Jesus, help me to be able to recognize when you are speaking to areas of sin in my life. Allow me to know and understand when you are convicting my heart. Also, help me with my response to the convictions you bring. Jesus, remove the plank out of my own eye before I even attempt to remove the saw dust out of my brothers eye. I ask for a radical obedience to you Jesus, take me out of my pit of “enough” and lead me into deeper waters with you! Amen!
P.S. Easton, Ayden, Dakota, Brad and Jacob, I love you guys!! and “Where’s the Convictions bros?”
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